Biopsy device with integral vacuum assist and tissue sample and fluid capturing canister

ABSTRACT

A biopsy device includes a body, a probe cannula, a cutter, a vacuum source, a tissue sample holder, and a flexible tube. The probe cannula extends distally from the body and defines an internal passage with a side aperture. The cutter is translatable relative to the probe cannula to sever a tissue sample received in the probe cannula. The vacuum source is in communication with the cutter. The tissue sample holder includes a vacuum port on the exterior surface to communicate with the vacuum source and a removable portion to hold solid tissue samples. The removable portion is selectively removable from the tissue sample holder and includes a straining member to separate fluids from solids. The flexible tube couples the tissue sample holder with the body such that the tissue sample holder is flexibly spaced away from the body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of co-pending andcommonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 12/775,780, entitled“BIOPSY DEVICE WITH INTEGRAL VACUUM ASSIST AND TISSUE SAMPLE AND FLUIDCAPTURING CANISTER” to Hibner, filed on May 7, 2010, published as U.S.Patent Publication No. 2010/0228146, which is a continuation of U.S.Pat. No. 7,758,515, “BIOPSY DEVICE WITH INTEGRAL VACUUM ASSIST ANDTISSUE SAMPLE AND FLUID CAPTURING CANISTER” to Hibner, et al. filed onMay 25, 2007, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/953,834, “BIOPSY APPARATUS AND METHOD” to Hibner et al.,filed 29 Sep. 2004 (U.S. Pat. Publ. No. 2006/0074345), and thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to biopsy devices, and moreparticularly to biopsy devices having a cutter for severing tissue, andeven more particularly to biopsy devices for multiple sampling with aprobe remaining inserted

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a suspicious tissue mass is discovered in a patient's breastthrough examination, ultrasound, MRI, X-ray imaging or the like, it isoften necessary to perform a biopsy procedure to remove one or moresamples of that tissue in order to determine whether the mass containscancerous cells. A biopsy may be performed using an open or percutaneousmethod.

An open biopsy is performed by making a large incision in the breast andremoving either the entire mass, called an excisional biopsy, or asubstantial portion of it, known as an incisional biopsy. An open biopsyis a surgical procedure that is usually done as an outpatient procedurein a hospital or a surgical center, involving both high cost and a highlevel of trauma to the patient. Open biopsy carries a relatively higherrisk of infection and bleeding than does percutaneous biopsy, and thedisfigurement that sometimes results from an open biopsy may make itdifficult to read future mammograms. Further, the aestheticconsiderations of the patient make open biopsy even less appealing dueto the risk of disfigurement. Given that a high percentage of biopsiesshow that the suspicious tissue mass is not cancerous, the downsides ofthe open biopsy procedure render this method inappropriate in manycases.

Percutaneous biopsy, to the contrary, is much less invasive than openbiopsy.

Percutaneous biopsy may be performed using fine needle aspiration (FNA)or core needle biopsy. In FNA, a very thin needle is used to withdrawfluid and cells from the suspicious tissue mass. This method has anadvantage in that it is very low-pain, so low-pain that local anestheticis not always used because the application of it may be more painfulthan the FNA itself. However, a shortcoming of FNA is that only a smallnumber of cells are obtained through the procedure, rendering itrelatively less useful in analyzing the suspicious tissue and making anassessment of the progression of the cancer less simple if the sample isfound to be malignant.

During a core needle biopsy, a small tissue sample is removed allowingfor a pathological assessment of the tissue, including an assessment ofthe progression of any cancerous cells that are found. The followingpatent documents disclose various core biopsy devices and areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No.6,273,862 issued Aug. 14, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,522 issued May 15,2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,055 issued May 8, 2001; U.S. Pat. No.6,120,462 issued Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,544 issued Jul. 11,2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,230 issued Jun. 20, 2000; U.S. Pat. No.6,017,316 issued Jan. 25, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,497 issued Dec. 28,1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,469 issued Nov. 9, 1999; U.S. Pat. No.5,964,716 issued Oct. 12, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,164 issued Jul. 27,1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,333 issued Jul. 7, 1998; U.S. Pat. No.5,769,086 issued Jun. 23, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,547 issued Jul. 22,1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,822 issued Jun. 18, 1996; and US PatentApplication 2003/0199753 published Oct. 23, 2003 to Hibner et al.

At present, a biopsy instrument marketed under the trade name MAMMOTOMEis commercially available from ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC. for use inobtaining breast biopsy samples. This device generally retrievesmultiple core biopsy samples from one insertion into breast tissue withvacuum assistance. In particular, a cutter tube is extended into a probeto cut tissue prolapsed into a side aperture under vacuum assistance andthen the cutter tube is fully retracted between cuts to extract thesample, deposited upon an externally exposed surface accessible by agrasping instrument.

With a long probe, the rate of sample taking is limited not only by thetime required to rotate or reposition the probe but also by the timeneeded to translate the cutter. As an alternative to this “long stroke”biopsy device, a “short stroke” biopsy device is described in thefollowing commonly assigned patent applications: U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/676,944, “Biopsy Instrument with Internal SpecimenCollection Mechanism” filed Sep. 30, 2003 in the name of Hibner et al.The cutter is cycled across the side aperture, reducing the sample time.Several alternative specimen collection mechanisms are described thatdraw samples through the cutter tube, all of which allow for takingmultiple samples without removing the probe from the breast.

In particular, in the cross referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/953,834, “BIOPSY APPARATUS AND METHOD”, these tissue samples aredrawn by vacuum proximally through the cutter tube into a serial tissuestacking assembly that preserves the order of sample taking can bevisually observed through a transparent lumen, and can serve as atransport container for samples taken during a pathology examination.

Some clinicians prefer to capture a plurality of biopsy samples in asmall canister attached to a proximal end of the biopsy instrument, suchas described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,235 to Miller and U.S. Pat. Appl.Publ. No. 2006/0260994 to Mark. Vacuum draws these samples into thecanister while allowing fluids to pass through tubing back to a fluidcapturing receptacle. Periodically, the canister is disengaged from thebiopsy instrument for removing each sample and sending to pathologyprofessionals for assessment.

While these known tissue storage approaches have a number of advantages,bodily tissues and fluids present a biological hazard to medicalpersonnel that must be controlled while not interfering with theefficiency of the biopsy procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses these and other problems of the priorart by providing a biopsy device that has a probe cannula that isinserted into tissue to obtain a core biopsy sample by translating acutter with the probe cannula. A pneumatic pressure differential is usedto draw a severed tissue sample proximally from the probe cannula into abiopsy sample and fluid capturing canister sized to complete a fullbiopsy and therapy procedure and to provide a convenient method oftransporting the same to a pathology professional for sample assessment.Contact with the biopsy samples and extracted bodily fluids is avoidedin that the container need not be opened in a biopsy suite. In addition,the overall volume of single patient use disposable items is reduced bycombining the fluid collection and sample collection containers into asingle reservoir, thereby reducing the volume of product inventory andbiohazard waste materials.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall bemade apparent from the accompanying drawings and the descriptionthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the samewill be better understood by reference to the following description,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a self-contained biopsy system includinga biopsy device with cover omitted in fluid communication with thebiopsy sample and fluid capturing canister.

FIG. 2 an isometric view of the biopsy device of FIG. 1 with the coverand lower handle tray omitted and a reusable handpiece disengaged from adisposable probe assembly.

FIG. 3 an exploded view from below, left of the disposable probeassembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view from left, aft of the disposable probeassembly of FIG. 2 cut away to expose a pneumatic sequencing spoolvalve.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the biopsy sample and fluid capturingcanister of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section bisecting the biopsy sample and fluidcapturing canister of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section bisecting an alternative biopsysample and fluid capturing canister for the biopsy system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to the Drawings, wherein like numerals denote like componentsthroughout the several views, in FIG. 1, a biopsy device 10 includes areusable handpiece 12 and a disposable probe assembly 14. Aself-contained biopsy system 16 is formed by attaching a replaceablebiopsy sample and fluid capturing canister 18. The canister 18 isgenerally sized to accommodate comfortably a volume of fluid that wouldbe extracted, including saline flushing during a biopsy procedure withsufficient internal volume as well to hold biopsy tissue samples 19(FIG. 6). As such, biohazards associated with bodily tissue and fluidsare mitigated in that all such materials are readily transported from abiopsy suite for pathology assessment without the necessity of on-siteaccess.

Tissue is drawn by vacuum assistance generated by vacuum pump 20integral to the reusable handpiece 12 into a side aperture 22 of a probecannula 24 of the disposable probe assembly 14. The pneumatic vacuumassistance is achieved via a cutter tube 26 (exposed in the sideaperture 22) that translates within a cutter lumen 28 of the probecannula 24 and via an underslung lateral lumen 30 that distallycommunicates to the cutter lumen 28 through holes or apertures (notshown) just proximal to a piercing tip 32 of the probe cannula 24. A DCmotor 34 in the reusable handpiece 12 powers rotation and translation ofthe cutter tube 26 to effect the severing.

The disposable probe assembly 14 responds to the position of the cuttertube 26 by sequencing pneumatic communication between the biopsy probedevice 10 and the replaceable canister 18 via a vacuum supply line 36, aneedle vacuum line 38, and a sample retraction line 40. The vacuumsupply line 36 receives vacuum pressure at its distal end from thevacuum pump 20 and proximally passes through and proximally is engagedover a hose nib 42 formed onto the canister lid 44 of the canister 18.The needle vacuum line 38 distally communicates to a pneumaticsequencing spool valve 46 in the disposable probe assembly 14 and isfrictionally held within a first protruding cylindrical hose receptacle48 formed onto a canister lid 44 of the canister 18. The sampleretraction line 40 distally communicates to the disposable probeassembly 14 and proximally passes through and is frictionally heldwithin a second protruding cylindrical hose receptacle 50.

The reusable handpiece 12 includes a pneumatic manifold 52 having anupper right port 54 connected to the vacuum supply line 36 and an upperleft port 56 open to atmosphere. It should be appreciated that themanifold 52 serves as a mounting for the vacuum pump 20 that generatesthe pressure differential between the ports 54, 56.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1-2, insertion of the probe cannula24 into tissue is integrally supported by the piercing tip 32 attachedat the distal end as well as a longitudinal jack hammer motion to theprobe cannula 24 selected by positioning a slide button 58 distally anddepressing a forward motor button 60. In response, the DC motor 34drives a transmission section 61 grounded to a top cover 64 (depicted inphantom in FIG. 1) of the reusable handpiece 12 to longitudinallyreciprocate an internal carriage frame assembly 62 that is engaged formovement with the probe cannula 24. With the slide button 58 proximallypositioned, depression of the forward motor button 60 causes the DCmotor 34 to advance and rotate the cutter tube 26, depicted in FIG. 1 ashaving been fully distally translated, closing the side aperture 20.Depression of a reverse motor button 68 causes the cutter tube 26 toretract. Depression of a mode button 70 may cause other functions to beperformed. An additional feature contemplated but not depicted includesusing the mode button 70 to selectively communicate a saline supply tothe lateral lumen 30 to flush the probe cannula 24. It should beappreciated that the biopsy device 10 includes a minimum of “tethers”that would impede use, pose a tripping hazard, prevent use in an austereclinical setting, or extend set-up time.

Alternatively, instead of “hard-walled” lateral lumen 30 separated fromthe cutter lumen 28 along its length, applications consistent with thepresent invention may have a cylindrical probe cannula (not depicted)wherein the cutter tube 26 is positioned off-center to translate acrossa side aperture. A “soft-walled” lateral lumen may then be defined as aspace between an outer diameter of the cutter tube and an inner diameterof the cylindrical probe cannula.

In FIGS. 1-4, the disposable probe assembly 14 has a bottom cover 78with a distal probe mount cover 80 that assists in supporting the probecannula 24 while allowing the longitudinal jack hammer motion. Aplurality of locking tabs 82 with locking edges 84 extend upwardlythrough pass-through slots (not shown) formed in the periphery of alower handle tray 86 (FIG. 1) attached to the cover 64 of the reusablehandpiece 12 to resiliently extend outwardly into engaging contact withthe slots facilitating replacement of the disposable probe assembly 14.Relieved areas 88 are formed behind each locking tab 82 in a topextension member 89 that surrounds a probe support body 90. Thecombination covers a cavity defined by the bottom cover 78, which allowsdepression of the locking tabs 82 to unlock the disposable probeassembly 14 to install another identical or similar assembly.

A proximal end of the cutter tube 26 receives a cutter gear 92 havingdistal and proximal reduced diameter bearing surfaces 94, 96 on eachlongitudinal side of a rotation spur gear section 98, which engage thereusable handpiece 12 for rotation and for longitudinal translationthrough a distally open longitudinal aperture 100 (FIG. 3) formed in thebottom cover 78.

In FIGS. 2-4, the disposable probe assembly 14 has movable componentsthat respond to the actuating motions of the reusable handpiece 12. Theprobe support body 90 includes a distal probe mount 106 that is receivedwithin the distal probe mount cover 80 of the bottom cover 78. Proximalto and underlying a longitudinal axis of the disposable probe assembly14 defined by a probe guide hole 108 passing through the distal probemount 106, a vertically open longitudinal slot 110 is formed into anecked portion 112 of the probe support body 90.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3-4, at a proximal end of thelongitudinal trough 110, a distally open, longitudinally aligned valvebore 114 is formed in a proximal block portion 116 of the probe supportbody 90. Central and proximal ports 118, 120 communicate with the valvebore 114 laterally from a left side of the proximal block portion 116and a distal port 122 communicates laterally from a right side of theproximal block portion 116. A right distal ninety-degree fitting 124communicates between the distal port 122 and an intake filter 128.

A valve control rod 130 has a prismatic distal actuating portion 132extending distally out of the valve bore 114 constrained for onlylongitudinally movement within the longitudinal slot 110. The valvecontrol rod 130 also has a valve spool portion 134 that longitudinallytranslates within the valve bore 114 to selectively position between afirst position and a second position. A proximal 0-ring 136 near aproximal end of the valve spool portion 134 and a distal 0-ring 138 arespaced such that the first position entails the O-rings 136, 138bracketing the central and distal ports 118, 122 (i.e., distal positionof the valve control rod 130) and the second position entails theO-rings 136, 138 bracketing the proximal and central ports 120, 118,respectively (i.e., proximal position of the valve control rod 130).

A distal vacuum conduit 140 has one end attached to a centerninety-degree fitting 142 attached to the central port 118 and the otherend attached to a probe union ninety-degree fitting 144 thatcommunicates with the lateral lumen 30. The needle vacuum line 38 hasits distal end attached to a proximal ninety degree fitting 146 attachedto the proximal port 120.

A front actuation finger 148 (FIG. 2) of a front carriage 150 isreceived within an upwardly open socket 152 formed on a left side of avacuum control shuttle 154 having a lateral concave recessed band 156shaped to encompass with a clearance a lower portion of the rotationspur gear section 98 of the cutter gear 92. The vacuum control shuttle154 is laterally sized to bridge the longitudinal slot 110 with adownwardly projecting vacuum actuator lug 157 (FIG. 3) attached to anunderside of the shuttle 154 that is received within a vertically openelongate delay slot 158 of the distal actuating end 132 of the vacuumcontrol rod 130. Thus, the rather long cutter travel is translated intoa smaller valve movement as the shuttle reaches either full proximal orfull distal travel.

A sample retraction line 40 is proximally held by a tube guide 162extending inwardly from proximal end of the top extension member 89 ofthe disposable probe assembly 14. A distal end of the longitudinallyaligned sample retraction line 40 is received through a rear dynamicseal 164 attached to a proximal end of the cutter gear 92, and into thecutter tube 26.

The reusable handpiece 12 of the biopsy device 10 is substantially asdescribed in greater detail in four commonly-owned and co-pending U.S.patent applications (1) Ser. No. 11/198,558, “Biopsy Device WithReplaceable Probe And Incorporating Vibration Insertion Assist AndStatic Vacuum Source Sample Stacking Retrieval” to Hibner et al., filed8 Aug. 2005, published as US 2007-0032741 A1; (2) Ser. No. 11/736,117,“Tissue Sample Revolver Drum Biopsy Device” to Hibner et al., filed 17Apr. 2007; (3) Ser. No. 11/753,665, “Tissue Sample Serial CapturingBiopsy Device” to Hibner, filed 25 May 2007; and (4) Ser. No. 11/465,143“Vacuum Syringe Assisted Biopsy Device” to Hibner, filed 17 Aug. 2006,published as US 2007-0032743 A1, the disclosures of all of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. An aft carriage isomitted from the illustrative version for clarity as not beingnecessary, although a common reusable handpiece may include a secondcarriage for mounting to other types of disposable probe assemblies asdescribed in the cross referenced applications.

In FIGS. 5-6, the biopsy sample and fluid capturing canister 18 has atapered cylindrical fluid container 170 whose upper band-shaped lipseals 172 to and is encompassed by a downward circumferential lip 174 ofthe canister lid 44. A sample collector basket 176 has taperedcylindrical sides 178 shaped to come to rest at approximately a midpointof the interior of the fluid container 170. Near the top of the taperedcylindrical sides 178 of the sample collector basket 176, a perforateddisk 180 is horizontally attached to serve as support to a filter disk182 adhered to an undersurface. The combination acts in a similarfashion to a drip coffee filter basket. About approximately a third ofthe upper circumference of the cylindrical sides 178 of the samplecollector basket 176, a raised side wall portion 184 culminates in ahorizontal and inwardly projecting annular ring portion 186 that servesas a handle for drawing the sample collector basket 176 out of the fluidcontainer 170.

The center of the perforated disk 180 of the sample collector basket 176includes a first hose receptacle 188 registered for the needle vacuumline 38 to pass on downward into a fluid collection reservoir 190 formedwithin the fluid container 170 below the perforated disk 180 of thesample collector basket 176. The center of the perforated disk 180 ofthe sample collector basket 176 also includes a second hose receptacle192 registered for the sample retraction line 40 to pass on downwardinto the fluid collection reservoir 190. It should be appreciated thatcaps or a closed lid (not shown) may be used to seal the biopsy sampleand fluid capturing canister 18 after the lines 36, 38, 40 are removed.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, in use, the cutter 26 is initiallydistally positioned as the probe cannula 24 is inserted into tissue. Thevacuum motor 20 operates providing a low pressure within the fluidcollection reservoir 190 inside of the replaceable canister 18 viavacuum supply line 36. A hydrophobic filter 198 prevents fluids fromreaching the vacuum motor 20. The low pressure communicates to thecutter tube 26 via the sample retraction line 40. After the probecannula 24 is inserted into tissue beside a suspicious lesion, thecutter tube 26 is retracted. The spool valve 46 is in the firstposition, with the vacuum lumen 30 vented to atmosphere via central port118 and distal port 122. The retraction of the cutter gear 92 causes theshuttle 154 to retract correspondingly with its downward lug 152 movingwithin the delay slot 158 of the distal actuating portion 132 of thevalve control rod 130. Once the carriage 150 of the reusable handpiece12 reaches full proximal travel, the lug 157 contacts the proximal endof the delay slot 158 and changes the pneumatic sequencing spool valve46 from the first position to the second position. Thus, the vacuumlumen 30 is also exposed to vacuum via central and proximal ports 118,120 of the spool valve 46 that communicates via the needle vacuum line38 to the replaceable container 18, exposing the suspicious lesion tothe vacuum assistance from both lines 38, 40 to prolapse tissue into theside aperture 20. The spool valve 46 stays in this configuration as thecutter tube 26 is advanced distally while rotating to sever the tissuesample 19. As the shuttle 154 approaches its distal-most position, thelug 157 contacts the distal end of the delay slot 158 of the distalactuating portion 132 of the valve control rod 130, changing to thefirst position wherein the vacuum lumen 30 is vented to atmosphere andthe tissue sample 19 is retracted into the replaceable container 18 byvacuum pressure via the sample retraction line 40.

Once tissue samples 19 are collected in the replaceable container 18,the replaceable container 18 is removed from the biopsy device 10 andtransported to a pathology professional for sample assessment.

Alternately, the bodily fluids are drained from the container andreplaced with tissue preparation fluid (e.g. Formalin) prior to beingsent off for pathological assessment. The bodily fluids are removed fromthe replaceable canister 18 by removing the canister lid 44, needlevacuum line 38, and the sample retraction line 40 from the replaceablecanister assembly 18. While supporting the tapered cylindrical fluidcontainer 170 and the annular ring portion 186 located on samplecollector basket 176, the fluids are poured from the tapered cylindricalfluid container 170 with the tissue samples 19 remaining in the taperedcylindrical fluid container 170. The sample collector basket 176 andattached filter disk 182 are then removed form the tapered cylindricalfluid container 170 and tissue preparation fluid (e.g. Formalin) ispoured into the tapered cylindrical fluid container 170. A canister lid(not shown) without hose receptacles or nibs is attached to the taperedcylindrical fluid container 170 prior to transporting to a pathologyprofessional for sample assessment. Alternately, after the fluids arepoured from the tapered cylindrical fluid container 170, the samplecollector basket 176, and attached filter disk 182 are removed from thetapered cylindrical fluid container 170. The tissue samples 19 aretransferred from the tapered cylindrical fluid container 170 into acontainer (not shown) containing tissue preparation fluid (e.g.formalin) prior to transportation to a pathology professional for sampleassessment.

Another alternate embodiment of a biopsy sample and fluid capturingcanister 18′ is depicted in FIG. 7 as including a fully enclosed samplecollector basket 192 with a lower perforated disk 194 and filter 196 tofully contain the tissue samples 19 as they exit sample retraction line40. The lower perforated disk 194 and filter 196 act to separate thetissue samples 19 from bodily fluids. Once tissue samples 19 arecollected in the replaceable container 18, the fully enclosed samplecollector basket 192 can be removed form the replaceable container 18and placed directly into a container (not shown) containing tissuepreparation fluid (e.g. Formalin) prior to transportation to a pathologyprofessional for sample assessment.

It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or otherdisclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to beincorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to theextent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existingdefinitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in thisdisclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure asexplicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting materialincorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, thatis said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts withexisting definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forthherein, will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arisesbetween that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, giventhe benefit of the present disclosure, that such embodiments areprovided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, andsubstitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

For example, as a means to further reduce the size and weight of theoverall biopsy device 10, the DC motor 34 employed to rotate andtranslate the cutter tube 26 can also drive the vacuum pump 20 viaappropriate gearing.

For another example, although the integral vacuum pump advantageouslymakes the biopsy device 10 more self-sufficient in austere clinicalsituations, applications consistent with aspects of the invention mayemploy a separate vacuum source.

As another example, while a DC motor integral to the reusable handpiecehas certain advantages in the illustrative version, applicationsconsistent with aspects of the invention may utilize a motor comprisingmaterials compatible with use in a strong magnetic environment (e.g.,magnetic resonance imaging) or remotely placed (e.g., via a drivecable).

As another example, while a pneumatically closed system between thereplaceable container 18 and the biopsy device 10 provides variousadvantages, applications consistent with aspects of the invention mayprovide separate vacuum source connections to the biopsy device and tothe replaceable container 18.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A biopsy device comprising: (a) a probe cannuladefining an internal passage and having a side aperture; (b) a cuttertranslatable relative to the probe cannula to sever a tissue samplereceived in the probe cannula; (c) a vacuum source in communication withthe cutter; (d) a container, wherein the container comprises a tissuesample holder located in the container, wherein the tissue sample holderis configured to hold solid tissue samples within the container; and (e)a conduit, wherein the conduit is configured to provide fluidcommunication between the container and a proximal end of the cutter,wherein the conduit is further configured to communicate solid tissuesamples from the cutter to the tissue sample holder, wherein at least aportion of the conduit comprises a flexible tube coupling the containerwith the probe cannula such that the probe cannula is movable relativeto the container.
 22. The biopsy device of claim 21, wherein the conduitis is proximally held relative to the probe cannula by a tube guide. 23.The biopsy device of claim 21, wherein the conduit defines at least aportion of a fluid passageway.
 24. The biopsy device of claim 23,wherein the tissue sample holder comprises a staining member, whereinthe fluid passageway passes through a plane defined by the strainingmember and terminates at a free end within the container.
 25. The biopsydevice of claim 23, further comprising a vacuum lumen communicating to adistal end of the probe cannula and a second conduit between thecontainer and the vacuum lumen, wherein the second conduit is configuredto communicate vacuum with the vacuum lumen, wherein the tissue sampleholder comprises a straining member.
 26. The biopsy device of claim 25,wherein the second conduit passes through a plane defined by thestraining member and terminates at a free end within the container. 27.The biopsy device of claim 25, wherein the second conduit is positionedabove a plane defined by the straining member and terminates at a freeend within the tissue sample holder.
 28. The biopsy device of claim 26,further comprising a pneumatic switching assembly responsive to thecutter, wherein the pneumatic switching assembly is operativelyconfigured to expose both the cutter and the vacuum lumen from thevacuum source in response to the cutter being retracted to prolapsetissue into the side aperture, wherein the pneumatic switching assemblyis responsive to the cutter being distally positioned to expose thevacuum lumen to an increased pressure to effect retraction of severedtissue to the container via the conduit.
 29. The biopsy device of claim21, wherein the tissue sample holder comprises a straining member,wherein the conduit is positioned above a plane defined by the stainingmember and terminates at an end within the container.
 30. The biopsydevice of claim 21, wherein the container defines a fluid reservoir,wherein at least a portion of the fluid reservoir is defined by thetissue sample holder.
 31. The biopsy device of claim 30, wherein thetissue sample holder is configured to hold solid tissue samplesseparately from the fluid reservoir.
 32. The biopsy device of claim 31,wherein the tissue sample holder includes a removable portion, whereinthe removable portion of the tissue sample holder comprises a basket.33. The biopsy device of claim 32, wherein the basket is configured tohold solid tissue samples while permitting fluid to flow through thebasket.
 34. The biopsy device of claim 32, wherein the removable portioncomprises a straining member, wherein a vacuum port is positioned abovethe straining member.
 35. The biopsy device of claim 21, furthercomprising a motor assembly operatively configured to translate thecutter to sever a tissue sample.
 36. A biopsy device comprising: (a) aprobe cannula defining an internal passage and having a side aperture;(b) a cutter translatable relative to the probe cannula to sever atissue sample received in the probe cannula; (c) a vacuum source incommunication with the cutter; (d) a container, wherein the containercomprises a tissue sample holder located in the container, wherein thetissue sample holder comprises at least one specimen holder, wherein thespecimen holder is configured to hold solid tissue samples within thecontainer, wherein the specimen holder is removable from the container;and (e) a flexible conduit, wherein the flexible conduit is configuredto provide fluid communication between the container and a proximal endof the cutter, wherein the flexible conduit is further configured tocommunicate tissue samples from the cutter to the tissue sample holder.37. A biopsy system comprising: (a) a biopsy device comprising: (i) abody, (ii) a cannula defining an internal passage and having a sideaperture, and (iii) a cutter translatable relative to the probe cannulato sever a tissue sample received in the probe cannula; (b) a samplecollection assembly comprising: (i) a tissue sample holder configured toseparate solid tissue samples from fluid, wherein the tissue sampleholder is further configured to hold tissue samples severed by thecutter; and (ii) a conduit extending from the tissue sample holder tothe biopsy device, wherein the flexible is configured to communicatetissue samples from the biopsy device to the tissue sample holder,wherein at least a portion of the conduit comprises a flexible tubecoupling the sample collection assembly with the cannula such that thecannula is movable relative to the sample collection assembly.
 38. Thebiopsy system of claim 37, wherein the tissue sample holder furthercomprises a lid, wherein the conduit is configured to engage the lid.39. The biopsy system of claim 37, wherein the conduit terminates at afree end located above at least a portion of the tissue sample holder.40. The biopsy system of claim 37, wherein the tissue sample holdercomprises a straining member, wherein the straining member comprises aperforated disk and a filter disk.